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--- Chapter 105 ---
[Ding! Congratulations, Host!]
[You have received 1x Perfect Ancient Refining Technique Scroll(One person limited), 10x rare Blueprints, and 1x Saint Realm's Weapon Blueprint: Twin Illumination]
"Alicia, the usual."
[Okay]
[Name: Perfect Ancient Refining Scroll(One Person Limited)]
[Type: Exclusive Inheritance]
[Grade: SSS]
[Description: A refining technique made by a man one step away from reaching Dou God. This technique recorded his will about Ancient Refining and knowledge related to it]
[Ding! By using this item, Ancient Refining's Growth Cap will be increased to SSS]
...
[Ding! Listing eleven blueprints]
[Dreading Widow(Spear)]
[Greedy Ghost(Dagger)]
[Love Guard(Shield)]
[One Hundred Miles Thorn(Chains)]
[Lion's Claws(Finger Guards)]
[Skyharp Eclipse(Bow)]
[Dragon's Spine(Greatsword)]
[Sabertooth(Battle Axe)]
[Bloody Storm(Scythe)]
[Piercing Rain(Sword)]
[Twin Illumination(Blade)]
Baek Ain used the limited Perfect Ancient Refining Scroll and raised his Ancient Refining's Growth Cap to SSS. And he glanced down at the list of blueprints, which didn't excite him except the last one.
Opening the Twin Illumination's info, Baek Ain's lips curved and formed a big smile.
"Just the right time... I'm short of good weapons right now."
[Name: Twin Illumination(Blueprint)]
[Type: Weapon's Blueprint]
[Grade: SS]
[Description: Twin Illumination is a pair of blades invented by the Saint Master Refiner, Jing Moshen. He got inspired by the twin pillars of light that occurred in his era, cleaving over heaven]
A 3D model of twin blades appeared before Baek Ain's eyes. They are around seventy centimeters with the body entirely silverish white that reflects the light and a light purple-colored handle.
Such a good weapon.
Even though Baek Ain hadn't made this weapon, he could feel the twin blades fit into his hands perfectly.
Then his face dropped when seeing the list of materials needed to refine Twin Illumination.
Over ninety materials and several processes of refining to craft it, and half of it was unknown to Baek Ain. Remember that Baek Ain possessed a few memories of experts like Yao Men and Old Ground Demon Ghost, but he still couldn't identify half of these materials.
He even wondered if these materials existed in the first place.
[They exist but are probably extinct because history devoured them. Even Divine Materials couldn't escape rot from time, Host] Alicia commented calmly.
[Though, I believe you can still make the weapon with alternative materials and the right combination. You're 8th Tier Alchemist, so doing refinement should be easy for you]
Hearing the encouraging words from Alicia, Baek Ain smiled and checked the Ancient Refining Smithery for the last time. He returned to the upper level and saw Cai Lin playing with her Neon Green Flame.
There was a hint of excitement on her beautiful face, which piqued Baek Ain's interest in what she was making.
Well, the winner of this small contest is going to be him.
[Pure Serpent Lotus Flame(Innate)]
Baek Ain eyed the name above Cai Lin's Green Neon Flame and shook his head because she obtained the flame through their shared efforts. Well, he nurtured that flame with Gnome's energy.
Leaving Cai Lin alone in the Ancient Smithery, Baek Ain chose a random room in the cave and started refining too.
Tossing a pillow mat onto the dirty floor, Baek Ain sat down and ran his mind through the Ancient Refining's introduction from start to finish.
Since he possessed Parallel Thinking, absorbing all the knowledge was easy. Not to mention Refining and Alchemy have similarities here and there, allowing Baek Ain to increase his understanding.
His mind is like a sponge that absorbed Ancient Refining Technique left behind by a Saint Realm Expert.
Refining treasures is "primarily." divided into four stages. These stages were: Smelting, Tempering, Forming, and Spirit Attachment.
Smelting is the most uncomplicated step. If the refiner possessed the material, smelting it with the appropriate flame is the most direct way to purge impurities. Of course, The length of smelting affected the quality of the weapon.
As for Tempering, there were plenty of methods to do so. The simplest way was to use a hammer to temper the metal. But generally, this method could only be applied when making low-level equipment. As for high-level items, one used Dou Qi complimented with their own strength to temper the materials. And Materials hammered with this method would become more powerful.
It has to get mentioned that this is coming from Master Refiner's window of vision. After all, Blacksmiths also have their method of tempering materials.
The third step wasn't so simple. If one wanted to make a personalized weapon, then Forming was very important. The weapons used by each person were different.
Even if two identical blades were "simultaneously." handed to two people, the way they use them would be not surprisingly different. In the end, after numerous uses, the blades would wear by their user's habits.
When a Refiner wants to make a weapon or an artifact, one has to be careful in Forming. One must make a weapon that one gets accustomed to. And the result will reach its potential.
The last step, Spirit Attachment, was the most "difficult." part of refining weapons. The Spirit attached to the weapon/artifacts would determine its level.
The "Spirit." means the maker's will or intention, which could cause the weapon/artifacts to develop its soul. Baek Ain understood this because, as an Alchemist, high-grade pills could be born with an innate spirit.
[Ding! Ancient Refining's mastery has increased because of your understanding]
[Ancient Refining has become more profound with your knowledge]
[Ancient Refining(F) >>> Ancient Refining(C)]
Baek Ain smiled and said confidently, "Let's start."
Opening his inventory, Baek Ain picked the worst material he had, some chunk of impure iron ore and ordinary wood he broke in his early days.
Baek Ain started melting the iron ore with his flame and watched the chunk become liquid. After that, he grabbed the hot liquid with his bare hands and cooled it down with his Dou Qi.
SSSH!
The sounds of sizzling come from his palm.
If any refiner sees this, they will slap their faces in disbelief at such a cooling method.
However, Baek Ain aimed to temper the iron simultaneously by applying so much pressure using his physical prowess. Before getting Ashen-Eyed Behemoth's Bloodline, Baek Ain's physical strength is ten times Dou Practitioner of the same realm.
Using this method, he wanted to reduce the "brittleness." of the iron and strengthen the whole material.
[Enhanced Iron]
"Next step..."
It might sound surprising, but what Baek Ain does next is Refine the ordinary wood. He didn't use his flame as green-colored energy came from his palm.
Baek Ain is an Alchemist, so he possesses Wood Dou Qi.
And to be honest. Baek Ain also possessed an affinity to all the fundamental elements.
[Enhanced Red Bark Wood]
Sighing because the experiment was successful, Baek Ain began to form his first-ever refined weapon.
Under his hazel-gold eyes, the materials fused and changed a few times until becoming a chef knife no longer than twenty meters with a red wood handle.
The process took around thirty minutes.
Baek Ain sighed inwardly and focused on the chef's knife, burning his fiery will into it. A faint glow appeared on the sharp blade as a smile formed on his face.
[Ding! You have created your first artifact]
[Please name it]
"Tama." Baek Ain answered without much thought.
[Name: Tama]
[Type: Weapon]
[Grade: B]
[Description: An extremely sharp chef knife made by Baek Ain using Ancient Refining Method. Even though the materials hold the chef knife's quality from advancing further, it's still better than any Dou Spirit Weapon]
[Ding! Ancient Refining has leveled up]
[Ancient Refining(C) >>> Ancient Refining(B)]
Baek Ain ignored the notification and marveled upon his first creation. He played around with it for five minutes before coughing a few times to his embarrassment, even though no one was watching.
[...]
Oh, wait. There was Alicia.
[You like an excited child playing around with his new toy]
"Is there something wrong with me being excited, Alicia?" Baek Ain returned casually.
[No]
[Just saying]
Baek Ain swayed his hand to push Alicia's system panel away and placed his first creation inside a case made from fancy-looking leather.
After creating Tama, Baek Ain's mood improved, and his craftsman's heart exploded throughout the roof. He even forgot about the competition between him and Cai Lin as he focused on creating new artifacts.
[Ding! You have created an artifact]
[Ding! You have created an artifact]
[Ding! You have created an artifact]
[Ding! You have created an artifact]
[Ding! You have created...]
[Ding! You have created...]
[Ding! You have created...]
[Ding! You have created...]
[Ding! You have...]
[Ding! You have...]
[Ding! You have...]
[Ding! You have...]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
Baek Ain is absorbed in refining artifacts, unaware the moon has risen to the sky. Every time he finished one artifact, he would name it and toss it into the inventory.
Even the loud notifications don't bother Baek Ain, becoming white noise to help stay in pace.
And then he stopped abruptly.
A desire to reach the impossible flashed in Baek Ain's mind.
Two words come from his mouth.
"Twin Illumination."
Yes, Baek Ain wanted to create a Saint Grade Weapon. It is beyond his current capabilities, but man is not new to challenge and failure.
Picking the best varieties of materials in his inventory, Baek Ain summoned Gnome's Flame and Golden Crow's Flame.
A grin plastered all over his face.
...
...
A week later.
"Hmm, this should be sufficient..." Cai Lin huffed in satisfaction. It took over a thousand attempts to refine this weapon, and her hard work paid off handsomely.
She looked down at the blade she made with Venerable Earth Dragon's Arm, which she "previously." refined with the most primitive method of changing its shape only. And she re-refined it to make it better.
After refining it again, the blade's body shrunk to eighty centimeters, and it's entirely white, like a polished bone. The handle becomes slicker with a hint of a draconic feature. There are no longer spikes because Cai Lin thought it unnecessary.
"It's a peak Dou Venerate Grade Weapon. Even though the offensive ability is lacking because my refinement skill is still low, its durability is better than some Half Saint's Weapon."
"I'll name you Earth Cleaver." Cai Lin planned to give this to Baek Ain after his recovery. However, Ancient Refining Technique changed her mind for the better.
She patted her chest proudly and said, "I'll be the winner of this small competition, Ain."
And suddenly, thunderclaps echoed in the sky.
BOOM!
Lightning struck Fallen Orchid Sect's Array and caused the air to tremble violently.
The spatial strength in the surrounding is agitated as if something incredible is about to happen.
"What happened? Is there an intruder??!" Lan Tianxue panicked while summoning everyone with her sect master's command.
Lan Rou frowned and glanced at the mountain where Baek Ain and Cai Lin stayed to refine weapons. She is a reincarnation of A Half-Saint, who failed to reach Saint Realm.
So she could deduce this situation very well.
"Lightning Tribulations..." She mumbled to herself.
"Looking at the state of the sky, there would be three strikes... What is Ain doing there?"
Unknown to everyone, Baek Ain released a cold sweat while staring at the twin blades before his eyes. He is at a very critical moment of Spirit Attachment.
One wrong move and this alternative Twin Illumination is fucked.
An hour later.
"Surprise me. Can you cleave heaven?" Baek Ain grinned at the weapon as he grasped the twin blades' handles.
SWOOOOOOSH!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The first lightning struck the mountain and hit Baek Ain after destroying layer upon layer of rocks.
Baek Ain waved his hand and repealed the lightning away.
He looked up and said, "Let's see how beautiful you are against the Tribulation Lightnings."
"Hehe."
"Seven Kill Dances: Opening."
Swoosh!
As if accepting Baek Ain's challenge, the sky sent black-colored lightning at him.
"HA!" Baek Ain roared loudly.
BOOOOOOOM!!
A cross-shaped energy slash clashed with the lightning in the sky and exploded, causing a shockwave.
"COME ON, GIVE ME YOUR BEST!" Baek Ain taunted the dark sky even more.
GRRRR! KABOOM!
Final lightning appeared, freezing the surroundings in silence.
It was golden-colored lightning.
Baek Ain grinned and executed his killing move, "Final Dance: Endless Slaughter."
Cracks!
The air shattered and exposed a spatial rift, but Baek Ain slashed it with his twin blades.
His blades traveled slowly and welcomed the golden-colored lightning, parting the dark cloud with extreme blade intent.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The sky becomes clear again, revealing a golden sun on the blue sky.
[Ding! You have created a masterpiece]
[Please name it]
"Domina & Tion." Baek Ain uttered proudly.
"Domina-Tion, you two shall assist my endeavor in this world!"
"Haha~!"